Events

Inside #AgTwitter and Canada’s #Harvest20 on Twitter

By
Tuesday, 6 October 2020

As we collectively take stock of what’s important to life in 2020 and beyond, our attention to and appreciation for the necessities of life has never been greater.

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#AgTwitter, we stan you.

Canadians have a newfound appreciation for Canada’s agricultural sector. Canada’s farmers and farm workers are true heroes in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals help keep us fed while caring for the land and providing important context and commentary on Canada’s rural communities. 

We see many of these conversations play out on Twitter within the broad community that is Agriculture Twitter (#AgTwitter). Tractor stuck in the mud? See it first on #AgTwitter. Terrible hail out west? The crop update can be found on #AgTwitter. Twitter has become a way to connect Canadians wanting to know more about where their food comes from with the people who make their living producing it.

This is especially true in 2020 as the Canadian #AgTwitter conversation has grown by 12% this year. This compares mentions of the hashtag from January 1 to August 31, 2020 to mentions from the same stretch in 2019.

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From the environment to economics, from mental health to memes, the Canadian #AgTwitter community is a perfect example of how Twitter can mobilize audiences in a manner that informs, supports and entertains--sometimes in the very same thread!

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With fall harvest season now underway (#Harvest20), here is a quick cheat sheet on what the Canadian #AgTwitter conversation looks like in 2020 plus some recommendation of top accounts to follow to unearth some of the best content on Twitter.

#Plant20 and #Harvest20

The #Plant20 hashtag is where people came to discuss this past spring’s planting season plus share tips, photos and videos.

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Similarly, #Harvest20 is home to the broader conversations around the current harvest season with agricultural workers and other stakeholders sharing the best content and real-time looks at how the harvest season is progressing.

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Let’s talk crops

There are certain hashtags that transcend the #AgTwitter conversation and hashtags for key food-specific commodities fit that description. Not only are Canadians in the agricultural space using these hashtags, we also see them widely used in conversations rooted in stock trading, investments and banking.

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These are five crop-specific hashtags with the most Canadian mentions on Twitter between May 1 and September 30, 2020. 

  1. #corn
  2. #soybeans
  3. #canola
  4. #wheat
  5. #grain

Source: Brandwatch - Twitter Canada, 2020

#CdnAgDay and #AgProud

With mental health a growing conversation within the #AgTwitter community, it’s important to look towards hashtags that celebrate the important contributions that farmers and other professionals in this industry provide to our country. 

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Canadian Agriculture Day (#CdnAgDay) takes place in mid-February each year and is an occasion that drives content showcasing the efforts and impact of Canada’s agricultural sector. #AgProud similarly is a hashtag rooted in achievement and pride, used by thousands of Canadians each year to magnify the spirit and energy of the #AgTwitter community.   

10 great Canadian #AgTwitter accounts on Twitter

Here are a selection of prime Canadian accounts to follow to get a flavour of the Canadian #AgTwitter. 

These accounts are run by professionals within our agricultural community and provide a great snapshot of these important conversations about our food supply, the environment, economics and more. 

Vanessa Durand (@NesFarm) - Kemptville, Ontario

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Hannah K (@HJKizz) - Wheatland County, Alberta

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Katie Keddy (@VHsweetpotatoes) - Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

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Kim Keller (@kimkkeller) - Melfort, Saskatchewan

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John Kowalchuk (@KowalchukFarms) - Rumsey, Alberta

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Crystal Mackay (@CrystalMackay32) - Guelph, Ontario

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Dallas Moneo (@moneodallas) - Assiniboia, Saskatchewan

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Chris Oram (@chrisoram11) - Grand Falls, Newfoundland

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Megan Reynolds (@farmermegzz) - Kyle, Saskatchewan

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Lori Robinson (@spuddoc) - Albany, Prince Edward Island

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